Registering mechanism



May 20; 1947. H. N. vBuss REGISTERING-ucnmrsu med oct. 27, 1942 2 sheets-snm 1 MX @Y .5 N MN@ e Q n k3 @SSN N@ Q@ #Maw w `Huwwwww. v n BIV A 4. /W a Illlllllll lllllll 1 l l w n l u H. N. BLISS REGISTERING IIEcIIANIsM May 2o, 1947.

Filed Oct. 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIII Patented Mayl20, 1947 Application October 27, 1942, Serial No. 463,460

This invention relates to registering devices or counters of the type having a plurality of numeral wheelswith transfer means therebetween for advancing a wheel of higher order one step upon a predetermined rotation'or full revolution of the wheel of the next lower order.

As an instance of a use to which a counter constructed in accordance with the ypresent invention may be applied, reference may be'had to registering, in degrees and tenths'. thereof, the angular or rotary movement oi.' a member or mechanism, the extent of movement of which or the position of which it is desired to indicate at any time. It is understood, however, that such reference is by way of illustration only and that the improved arrangement has other adaptations.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved counter or registering mechanism which may be made relatively small and compact; which may be easily read; which may be operated at relatively'high speeds without undue wear or shock; which will register up to a number other than a multiple of one hundredand then repeat on continued operation; and which is simple and economical in construction and arrangement.

A counter constructed in accordance with the present invention may have relatively small wheels while, atthe same time, the numerals on all of the wheels are of sulcient size and are exposed in such manner as to be readily observed, and the counter will stand up well under high speeds because, at the time of transfer, the inertia offered by the wheels is relatively small.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangementof parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown one embodiment which the present invention may take:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on a horizon-A tal central plane through my construction;

Fig. 2 is a front view of my improved arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a front plan View of the multiple window shell or shutter which is associated with the wheel of higher order;

Fig. 4 is a developed view of the shell shown in Fig. 3;

ing. 5 is a view showing diagrammaneauy the 2 order in which the numerals are applied to the wheel oi! higher order; and

Figs. 6 and 'I are, respectively, detail views ci one of the locking disks and one of the two-'- toothed driving gears of a transfer means.

Referring tothe drawings in detail, i0 designates a casing or frame of any suitable sort, that shown in the drawings being more or less con. ventional or diagrammatic. As there shown, the casing has av front wall ii provided with sight openings i2, I3, and Il through which the respective wheels A, B, and C may be observed. The casing has end walls i5 in which is iournaled a generally centrally located driven shaft I6 upon which. the several numeral wheels are vsupported. This shaft may be driven in any suitable manner, the driving means not being illus-v trated as such means will depend upon the use to which the counter is applied. In the present illustrative disclosure, the wheel A of lowest order is arranged to indicate tenths of a degree and, in such case, the shaft I6 may be correspondingly geared up with the control mechanism, that is, lthe mechanism, angular movements of which are to be registered or indicated.

The number of numeral wheels and the numerals arranged upon the wheel may, of course, be varied in accordance with the requirements incident to the various uses to which the mechanism may be put. For illustrative purposes, three such wheels are here illustrated, and these are arranged to indicate tenths of degrees between the range of 0 and 360. In the present instance, the wheel A of lowest order may be `assumed to indicate tenths of degrees; the second or intermediate wheel B units of degrees; and the wheel or drum C of highest order tens and hundreds degrees.

The wheel A has on its periphery consecutive numbers from 0 to 9, and this wheel, which is behind the sight opening i2, is staked or otherwise secured to a sleeve 20 which, in turn, is pinned or otherwise xed to the shaft I6. The units wheel B is similar to the wheel A and is carried by a sleeve 2| which is loose on the shaft i6. This wheel is behind the sight opening` 13 and is advanced one step (in the present instance, one-tenth of a revolution) each time the fraction wheel A makes a complete revolution. The numeral wheel or drum C is carried by a third sleeve 22 also mounted loosely on the shaft I6. In the present instance, this drum or wheel is in the form of an elongated cylinder of substantially the same diameter as the 4wheels A and B, and this cylinder has an end wall 23 clamped to the sleeve 22. The drum is further supported on the sleeve 22 by a disk 24 staked to the left hand end of the sleeve 22 and closely fitting within the drum between the ends of the latter. Upon the periphery of the wheel f higher order are a plurality of groups of numerals, the numerals of each group being consecutively arranged about the periphery of the drum, and the lowest numeral of each successive groupbeing in consecutive order with respect to the highest numeral of the next preceding group, and the numerals of lowest order of the several groups being transversely aligned. In accordance with the present illustrative disclosure, wherein it is assumed that the counter will be used for measuring angular movement in degrees through a complete circle, the first circumferential group of numbers run from 0 to 8 in consecutive order; the second group from 9 to l1; the third group from 18 to 26, and the last group from 2'1 to 35. The numeral O of the first group, the numeral 9 of the second, the numeral 18 of the third, and the numeral 27 of the fourth are transversely aligned. In short, there are thirtysix numerals running from 0 to 35, and these are arranged in four circumferential groups of nine numerals each. Upon a complete revolution of the unit wheel B, that is, as that wheel is moved from 9 to 0, the drum or numeral wheel C is turned forwardly a step through one-ninth of a revolution by means of transfer mechanism hereinafter described.

About the tens and hundreds wheel C is a rotatable shell or shutter 35 in the form of a cylinder of slightly larger diameter than the wheel C, and this shell is provided with windows 36 adapted to be successively. brought into registry with the elongated sight opening I4 in the frame or casing I0. The shell 35 has an end wall 31 clamped to a fourth sleeve 38 journaled on the shaft I6. In the present illustrative disclosure, the windows or openings 36 in the shell 35 are eight in number, and these are arranged in two series of four each. The openings of each series are diagonally arranged, that is to say, each succeeding opening is spaced laterally and circumferentially from the preceding one. With this arrangement, there are two diametrically disposed windows associated with each group of numerals on the wheel C. The shutr ter or shell 35 is rotated through one-eighth of a revolution in the same direction as the wheel C is rotated upon each complete revolution of this wheel so that a window 3E associated with one group of numerals will move out of aligntment with the sight opening I4 and a window associated with the next group will be brought into registry with that sight opening as the highest numeral of the first group moves out of, and the lowest numeral of the next group moves into, registry with the sight opening I4.

The transfer means between the several wheels are shown, for illustrative purposes, as being more or less of a conventional type. Referring to the transfer means between the wheels A and B, it will be seen that the sleeve 20 carries a locking disk 40 having a notch 4I in its periphery (see Fig. 6). Also carried by this sleeve is a two-toothed driving gear 42. toothed gear, the locking disk, and the wheel A are staked on the left hand end of the sleeve 20 and, for the purpose of preventing relative rotation therebetween, each has a. lug, such as the lug 43 (see Figs. 6 and 7), engaging in a spline or groove 44 in the periphery of the sleeve.

The two- Y 4 Similarly secured to the right hand end ot the sleeve 2| of the second wheel B is a twentytoothed driven gear 45. Loose on a, shaft 46 is a transfer pinion 41 having four narrow teeth 46 and four intervening wide teeth 49. At times other than during a transfer movement. the adjacent wide teeth engage the periphery of the looking disk 4I) so as to prevent accidental rotation of the transfer pinion and the second wheel. During a transfer movement, the twotoothed gear will pick up the transfer pinion causing it to turn one step and thus cause the pinion 41, through the driven gear 45, to rotate the second wheel B one-tenth of a revolution. I'he transfer means between the second wheel and the wheel C is similar to that described but in this instance (it being remembered that the wheel C is turned but one-ninth of a revolution on each step thereof), the driven gear 45 has eighteen teeth and the two-toothed driving gear 42' has a similar pitch, and the transfer pinion 41 is correspondingly modified. This pinion 41 is also loose on the shaft 46. The transfer means between the wheel C and the shutter is similar to that Just described except that the transfer pinion is split into two parts 41a and v411), and these parts are fixed to the shaft 46 and which shaft, in turn, is Journaled in the end walls of the casing I0. The part 41a has four long teeth and four short teeth, all of which cooperate with the two-toothed driving gear 42" fixed to the sleeve 22. This driving gear has the same pitch as the sixteentoothed driven gear 45 fixed to the left hand end of the sleeve 38 which carries the shutter 35. The driven gear 45" has sixteen teeth because, it will be recalled, the shutter is rotated but one-eighth of a revolution upon each advance thereof. The long teeth of the transfer pinion part 41a cooperate with the locking disk 40" in a manner similar to that in which the locking disk 4II cooperates with the transfer pinion 41. The other part 41h of the transfer pinion has eight teeth which mesh with the teeth of the driven gear 45".

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Assuming that the counter is in the zero position shown, on rotation of the shaft IB, the wheel A will indicate in tenths of degrees and on the tenth step of that wheel the next Wheel B will be advanced one step to indicate one degree through the sight opening I3. As the second wheel is making its tenth step, the tens-hundreds wheel C is advanced one-ninth of a revolution, whereupon the numeral 0 of that drum is moved out of registry with the sight opening I4, and the numeral 1 is moved into registry therewith. At this time, one of the left hand windows 66 of the shutter 35 is also in registry with the sight opening I4 so that theshutter blanks those nu merals of the other groups which are in registry with the sight opening. On successive steps of the numeral wheel C, the numerals 2 to 8 will be successively brought into registry with the window 36 last mentioned, it being understood that the shell or shutter remains stationary during this period. As that wheel is finishing a complete revolution, that is, as the zero indication is being brought into registry with the sight opening I4 and the numeral 9 of the second group is being brought into registry with that sight opening, the shutter 65, through the transfer mechenism which includes the transfer pinion parts 41a and 41h, is moved one-eighth of a revolution with the result that the window 38 associated with the rst group of numbers is moved out of registry with lthe sight opening I4 and the window 38 associated with the second group of numerals is moved into registry with that sight opening. The numeral 9 on the wheel C now appears in the sight opening and the other numerals in registry with that sight opening are blanked by the shutter. 'I'he operation is similar for the third and fourth group of numerals. The counterwill register up to 359,9 in which instance the numeral 9 will appear on the first and second wheel and the numeral 35 on the third wheel. Then, as the iraction wheel A is turned to zero indicating position, the units wheel B, the wheel C, and the shutter I will be turned to the position shown in the drawings where all of the wheels indicate zero. The counter is now in position to repeat.

It will be observed that with the arrangement described, a counter is provided which may be made very compact and small. The wheels, and particularly the wheel of highest order, being oi' relatively small diameter have but little inertia and, therefore, a transfer may be effected from one wheel to the other without undue wear or shock. At the same time, the numerals on the tens-hundreds wheel are sufllciently large to be read as easily as those on the Wheels of lower order.

I claim as my invention: I

l. In a counter, a numeral member mounted for unlimited step-by-step rotary movement and having a plurality of groups of numerals, the numerals oi.' the several groups being consecutively arranged in Ithe same direction about the axis of rotation oi' said member and the lowest numeral of each successive group .being in consecutive order with respect to the highest numeral of the next preceding group and in alignment with the numerals of the lowest order of the several groups, an elongated sight opening in front of said member and into registry with which the aligned numerals of the several groups are adapted to be successively brought, an indexible shutter between said member and sight opening and having windows respectively associated with said groups of numerals and successively spaced apart in the direction of movement of the shutter whereby said windows are successively brought into registry with said sight opening, means for intermittently indexing said member with a plurality of step-by-step movements during each complete rotation thereof, vand means operative only once for each complete rotation of said member for indexing said shutter one step in the direction of rotation of said member each time said member is completing a revolution.

2. In a counter, a numeral Wheel mounted for rotary movement and having a plurality of consecutively arranged numerals disposedy in laterally spaced apart groups, the numerals of the several groups running in the same direction and being circumferentially arranged about the periphery of said wheel, an elongated sight opening in front of said wheel and into registry with which the numerals of the several groups are adapted to be successively brought, an indexible shutter between said wheel and sight opening and having windows respectively associated with said groups of numerals and arranged to be successively brought into registry with said sight opening, means for indexing said numeral Wheel with a plurality of step-by-step movements during each complete rotation of the wheel, means for indexing said shutter in the direction of rotation of said wheel only upon each complete revolution of said Wheel, and means for holding said shutter stationary at all times except upon each complete revolution of said wheel.

3. In a counter, a numeral wheel mountedfor rotary movement through an unlimited angle and having on its periphery a plurality of consecutively arranged numerals disposed in successive groups spaced apart longitudinally of the wheel, the numerals of the several groups being consecutively arranged in the same direction about the periphery of the wheel, an elongated sight opening in front of said Wheel and extending longitudinally thereof and into registry with which the numerals of the several groups are adapted to be successively brought, means for indexing said wheel with a plurality of step-by-step movements during each complete rotation thereof, a shutter encircling said wheel and mounted for intermittent rotary indexing movement, said shutter having windows respectively associated with said groups of numerals and arranged to be successively brought into registry with said sight opening, and intermittently operated transfer means between said wheel and shutter for indexing said shutter one step in the direction of rotation of the Wheel only during one of the indexing movements imparted -to the wheel, said shutter being stationary during the other indexing movements of the wheel.

4. In a counter, a numeral wheel mounted for rotary movement through an unlimited angle and having on its periphery a plurality of groups of numerals, the numerals of each group being consecutively arranged about the periphery of the wheel and the lowest numeral of each successive group being in consecutive order with respect to the highest numeral of the next preceding group and in transverse alignment with the numerals of lowest order oi the several groups, an elongated sight opening in front of said wheel and extending longitudinally thereof, a cylindrical shutter about said wheel and mounted for intermittent rotary indexing movement, said shutter having a plurality of Windows respectively associated with said groups of numerals and arranged to be successively brought into registry. with said sight opening when said shutter is indexed, means for indexing said wheel with a plurality of step-by-step movements during each rotation of the Wheels to successively bring the numerals of each group into registry with said sight opening,

and intermittently operated means for indexing said shutter in the directionof rotation of said Wheel one step each time the said wheel has been indexed a plurality of steps, said shutter being maintained stationary during the other indexing movements of said Wheel.

5. In a cunter, a numeral Wheel mounted for rotary movement and having on its periphery a plurality of groups of numerals, the numerals of each group being consecutively arranged aboutl the periphery of the wheel and the lowest numeral of each successive group being in consecutive order with respect to the highest numeral of the next preceding group and in transverse alignment with the numerals of lowest order of the several groups, an elongated sight opening in front oi said wheel and extending longitudinally thereof, a cylindrical shutter about said wheel and mounted for rotary indexing movement, said shutter having windows respectively associated with said groups of numerals, said windows being successively spaced apart laterally and circumandere ferentlally ci the shutter whereby when the shutter is indexed a window associated with one group of numerals will be moved into registry with said sight opening while the window associated with. the preceding group of numerals is 5 moved out oi' registry therewith, means Ior indexing seid wheel with a plurality of step-by-ep movements during each rotation of the Wheel to lering v"che numerals thereon into successive regis- 'try said sight opening, and means operative non each complete revolution of the Wheel for nciemng said shutter one step in the direction of rotation of said Wheel each time said Wheel is completing s complete revolution` of 'nten a numeral Wheel mounted for rotary MNvement and having; on its periphery a urself-.ty oi consecutively'arranged numerals dsin. successive groups spaced :apart iongitudinally of the Wheel, the numerals of the severai es being consecutively arranged in the same on chou-t the axis or' rotation of said wheel fest numeral of euch .successive group consecutive order with respect to the *aerei of the next preceding group "nfl with the numerals of yluwest f er '.-ial groups, an elongated sig-nt o ening yoi said Wheel and into reg with eignec numerals of the severa s .d 'ne successively brought, s drica st utt about said Wheel and mountary indexing movement in i 8 rection of rotation of said wheel, said shutter having Windows respectively associated with said groups of numerals and successively spaced apart laterally and circumferentiaiiy o! the shutter whereby, when said shutter is indexed, a window associated with one group of numerals will move into registry with the sight opening while the `Window associated with the preceding group of numerals is moved out of registry therewith. said shutter having one less window than the number o! numerals in each group, means for indexing said wheel to bring the numerals thereof into successive registry with said sight opening, and intermittently operated means for indexing said shutter one step in the direction of rotation of said Wheel each time said. wheel is completing a complete revolution.

HARVEY N. BLISS.`

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,349,049 Crumpton Aug. 10, 1920 1,439,097 Graham Dec. 19, 1922 2,260,541 Schwerin Got. 28, 1941 9,371 Hornum Sept. '7, 1880 1,246,087 Gooch Nov. 13, 1917 

